FAQ

Have questions? We have answers

Welcome to our information center! We’ve grouped the most frequently asked questions we get from our customers and divided them into categories. If you don’t see a question/answer addressed here, please contact us and we’ll be glad to help.

Service

Q: Where in Connecticut do you offer home heating oil delivery and service?

A: Our headquarters are in Danbury, but we service homes in Fairfield, Litchfield, and New Haven counties. See our service area page for specific towns and zip codes.

Q: Does Jennings Oil guarantee its work? Are its workers bonded are insured?

A: We guarantee all our work, we obtain all necessary permits before beginning any work, and our workers are fully insured for both worker’s compensation and general liability.

Q: How long does it take to get an estimate?

A: Usually it’s only a matter of one day, excluding weekends. We can come out to your home at your convenience to determine and recommend the right size system for you and then give you an estimate.

Q: Approximately how long does it take you to complete an installation of a heating system?

A: Although every job is different and some take longer than others, it usually takes one day.

Q: Do you offer systems that qualify for energy rebates from my utility company and/or the manufacturer?

A: Yes. Whenever possible, we will recommend a system that will not only give you maximum comfort and equipment performance but save you money on its purchase through rebates or other incentives.

Q: I am on a fixed income and find it harder and harder to cope with the rising costs of heating my home. How can I lower my fuel bills?

A: You are not alone. Many of our customers are having problems making ends meet. We recommend that you take a look at (1) our EZ Pay Price Protection Plans, which can cut your winter fuel bills by 50%, and (2) our home energy saving tips, which suggest many other ways to cut the costs of heating your home.

Q: Do you offer financing?

A: Yes, we offer financing through several financial institutions. To learn more, contact us today.

Heating Oil Prices

Q: Are your prices competitive?

A: Yes. One of the things that allows us to be competitive is our storage capacity. We buy in larger quantities than some fuel dealers, which means a lower cost for us and a lower price for you. It’s also important to remember that we offer you advantages that fuel discounters don’t—like a dedicated team of highly-trained technicians, some of whom are always on call for you, 24 hours a day, 7 days a week.

Q: If I choose your EZ Pay plan, how do you come up with my monthly payment?

A: We take the number of gallons you used last year, multiply by projected prices for the coming season, apply any credit balance on your account and divide the total by 10 months.

Heating Equipment

Q: What should I do if my heating system doesn’t work?

A: Before you contact us, we can give you some tips to make sure a service call is really needed. This could save you the cost and inconvenience of an unnecessary service visit. Plus, it will ensure our technicians are working where they are most needed.

Make sure the thermostat is set above room temperature or in the “heat” position. If it’s a digital thermostat and the display screen is blank, you either need new batteries or the power supply has been interrupted.

Check for a tripped circuit breaker or a blown fuse.

Look to see if the power switch for your heating system is turned on. Sometimes the switch is turned off accidentally.

Check your tank to see if you have heating fuel.

If you have an oil heating system, press the reset button on the burner relay—ONCE ONLY. If your system doesn’t start after you push the reset button the first time, do not push it again. Pushing this button more than once can cause your heating system to “flood.” Too much oil will get pumped into the combustion chamber, resulting in a lengthy and costly repair.

If at this point you still don’t get heat, call us immediately.

When a service technician arrives, let him know everything you did to the system before he begins working on it.

You should also let him know if anything out of the ordinary happened, like an unusual noise, a strange smell or smoke.

In many cases, this will help the technician find the problem—and get your heat back on again—faster.

Q: How does a furnace work?

A: Heat is generated by burning oil, natural gas or propane inside the furnace. This happens in the combustion chamber, which gets very hot. Air absorbs this heat in the furnace’s heat exchanger. Next, the blower sends the heated air through a system of ducts, and warm air circulates through the home.

Q: What is a cracked heat exchanger?

A: The heat exchanger is the main component of your furnace. If the heat exchanger has a crack or a rust hole, combustion fumes (including carbon monoxide) can contaminate the air in your home. This is a potentially deadly situation and should be addressed IMMEDIATELY. A cracked heat exchanger usually requires replacing the entire furnace. If you suspect that you might have a cracked heat exchanger, or a carbon monoxide problem caused by your furnace, turn the system off immediately. Then call Jennings Oil right away for service.

Q: On mild winter days my furnace runs in short blasts and my home alternates from being too hot to being too cold. How can I fix this?

A: Installing a new furnace with two levels of heat and a variable speed motor is a good solution. These “smart” motors automatically adjust the volume and speed of air based on your home’s temperature requirements.

Q: I hear a lot of talk about high-efficiency heating systems. How do you determine a heating system’s efficiency?

A: One indicator is Annual Fuel Utilization Efficiency (AFUE). All heating equipment manufactured after 1980 is required to have a label indicating its AFUE. The AFUE ratio is a measurement of a heating system’s seasonal efficiency, taking into account how well the system performs over an entire season of starts and stops. Modern heating systems can range in efficiency from 81% to 95%. If your system’s AFUE is lower than this range, we recommend that you contact us to talk about your replacement options.

Q: At what temperature should I set my thermostat?

A: Different people feel comfortable at different temperatures. Pay less attention to the number on the thermostat display (or the position of the temperature indicator on a nondigital display) and more to how comfortable the room feels to you. When you feel comfortable, check the setting. That’s the right temperature for you.

Q: Should I install a programmable thermostat?

A: Absolutely! Programmable thermostats are especially useful for people who are away from home at regular intervals. They allow for customized comfort settings around the clock, and they can cut heating and cooling costs by as much as 10%!

Water Heaters

Q: What is an indirect-fired water heater?

A: In an indirect-fired water heating system, the domestic water is heated by hot water from the boiler. A typical design is a water tank with coiled pipes inside. These coiled pipes connect to your boiler. Hot water from the boiler passes through the coil, which heats up the domestic water surrounding it.

Q: Why do oil-fired water heaters save money and eliminate the chance of running out of hot water?

A: Heating oil produces the hottest flame of any home heating fuel. This means that an oil-fired water heater heats water fast. How fast? On average, oil-fired units heat water three times faster than gas heaters and five times faster than electric units.

Q: What can I do to maintain my water heater?

A: In order to maintain your water heater, you can take the following steps:

Every three months, drain a gallon of water from the tank. Do it every month if you have hard water. This reduces the amount of sediment collecting in the bottom of the tank, which can make the burner or heating coils work harder.

Every year have your water heater inspected by a service technician to keep it in peak operating condition.

Price Protection

A: Yes. We offer price protection contracts year-round. You may stay at market price for now, and ask us to send you a price protection contract in the future.

Q: Is there any fee for locking in my price?

A: No. There is no fee for the fixed price. There is only a fee for downside protection (capped price).

Q: How do I know how many gallons to contract for?

A: We recommend contracting for 85% of your expected annual usage. If you are currently a customer of ours, we supply you with information on your annual usage over the past several years.

Q: What happens if I use all of the contracted gallons before reaching the expiration date?

A: We want all of our customers to use all of their contracted gallons before the expiration date. When you get your last delivery that includes contracted gallons, any additional gallons will be priced at our daily market price. We will then mail you a new price protection contract.

Q: What happens if I reach the expiration date and I haven’t used all of my contracted gallons?

A: State law requires that we purchase the oil to match what our customers contract for. If you still have gallons left, we must sell that oil at our market price. You agree to pay us for the difference between the contracted price and the market price for the gallons that are remaining. We will then mail you a new price protection contract.